You know what I like just as much as reading? It’s spending time with great authors like Melissa Banczak. Recently, I was able to catch up with her for an interview. Let me share my experience with you.

Melissa, thank you so much for the opportunity to steal you away from your busy life to answer some questions for my readers. So, let’s begin.

Tell me a bit about one of your favorites that you wrote.

I was a screenwriter for ten years so there were a lot of great characters that I created and still think about. Some produced, some not. I switched to novels a couple of years ago when I’d had enough of that life. So far, I’ve only written one full length book and a prequel, so I’m going with the novel, How to Sex Your Snake. It started as a nanowrimo back in 2004 with a place holder title of, The Aha Moment – A woman falls in love with a guy who collects snakes and then gets caught up in a murder mystery, all while trying to figure out what she wants out of life. I hit the word count but the story was only 2/3rds of the way done and I had no idea how to end it. So I set it aside. Then a couple of years later, my husband left me in charge of his 100 or so snakes (most were babies) while he was out of the country for a year.

One of the first days, I walked into the bathroom and found myself nose to nose with a 9 foot boa hanging from the bathroom light. My daughter had put the snake in the shower and when she’d been done, the snake had climbed up on the light to dry. Everyday was something new and by the time my husband got back, I had the changes I needed for my book, a great new title, and a heroine who had no one to blame for her misery but herself thanks to her bad choices. Maybe because June is completely my creation, she is my favorite. There won’t be an actress to make choices and change how she interacts with the world. She’s all mine.

2. Writing is a difficult endeavor. What makes you continue to write?

I have no idea! I’m horribly lazy. Notes from my readers help. People asking for the next in the series or what else I’m working on. Seeing sales on my amazon dashboard and knowing I have no idea who those people are. I’m a tiny bit ambitious so that helps me pop my computer in the case and head out to the coffee house. I hate the idea of my characters being stuck in limbo. (my head)

What do you look forward to every day?

Chocolate cake! Some days, one of the only ways to get out the door, is to tell myself I’ll get a slice of chocolate cake and eat it while I write. I never do, though. I look at the cake in the case and think about how great it would taste. And then at the last minute, I change my mind. I think about how crappy I’ll feel with all that sugar in my system. And I just get tea. But, I absolutely love chocolate cake, so on some days, the very idea of it is the only way to get me on my way. I never write at home. Too many distractions.

How do you define success? What makes you successful?

Selling books! As long as people are buying I’m a happy camper. I have enough sales on Amazon to suggest that I’m building an audience. Hopefully, they want more. As I write the sequel to How to Sex Your Snake, I’m world building two additional series. I plan on holding back both until they’re complete then rapid releasing. Probably one every month. When readers find a series they like they want to binge. I know I do.

Any tips for a newbie writer?

You know your story. Don’t ever let anyone talk you out of telling it. Yeah, an editor will help you shape it but if there’s something that you really don’t want to change, fight for it. But understand why you want to keep whatever it is. And be able to explain the reason. If you can’t, you don’t need whatever it was.

A pool of blood…A missing body…A famous brother accused of murder. June Nash has the worst luck. Get the first 56 pages of my new book, How to Sex Your Snake, free! https://melissabanczak.com/mailing-list/

With 2017 almost over, I looked over the many books I read this year and came up with this spectacular list of special favorites I can highly suggest for your TBR list. I am enthused to be able to showcase these great books to you- several which came as a happy surprise to me. This list includes many indie authors and several new to me authors with one exception. I wish you much happy reading as you explore and enjoy these fabulous writers and what they have in store for you

Eyes Open by Tessa Valis

** This author is so amazing. And if you love this book she has several more with the main characters, Kira and Carter. These two are smoking hot and their love is forever -what we all want to have.

Filthy Scrooge by Taryn Quinn

**What a delightfully naughty, almost taboo-like tale. Boy this was sexy! One of those books you want to savor reading under the covers in privacy, away from family and friends.

Little Sister Next Door by Riley Rollins

** A new to me author, I thought this was a sweet tale with some steamy scenes that kept the story exciting.

Home for the Howlidays by various authors (boxed set)

** I have only read the first book in this series but can highly recommend already. Definitely a great gift set. If you love your alpha males and you enjoy shifters, this is the one to get.

Lightning Dragon by Charlene Hartnady

** Okay… Yes, I had to read this book because the protagonist’s first name is my own. But that aside, this book was Awesome! It was so great, I didn’t stop with this one and ended up reading several more in the Bride Hunt series and let me tell you- they are all great!

Redemption: A Golden Beach Novel by Kim Loraine

** Okay, there were parts of this book I wasn’t too keen on- like how the main characters acted, sometimes, in their relationship, but overall, I do recommend this book if you love romance. These two are not perfect but they love each other and in the end that’s all that matters.

Fallon’s Fall (Space Pirates Series Book Two) by Jordan Summers

** Holy crap!! First of all, I LOVE Jordan Summers. But omg, this novel was rockin! And either it was a short read or I was sooo into the book, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted so much more of Fallon! And there is something about his anatomy- his horns to be exact- that surprised me. Mmmm.

Dark Captive by Jennifer Denys

** Let me just say I am not into stories with BDSM genre. That is; however, my own personal preference. I included this book in the list because the ending surprised me. It was well thought out it and is a short read with an interesting protagonist who has a secret you won’t discover until the end. Really well done.

Ice Planet Barbarians: A SciFi Alien Romance by Ruby Dixon

** Interesting book. Priced right and there is a part in here, ladies, ~wooh~. Let me just say, what this barbarian does to his mate the second he meets her…. it’s a surprise and let me just tell you- it’s HOT!!

Creature of the Night by Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

** A sweet, beautiful, short tale from an Indie author. If you like Beauty and the Beast, you must read this one! And the ending holds a surprise. The love that the two main characters hold for each other will have you wishing you had your own “beast.”

I’ve always loved the tale of “Beauty and the Beast” and this book’s story is similar. At the beginning, I will say it ran a bit slow but it picked up quickly and once it did, it was hard for me to put the book down. I looked forward to reading every chapter. and at the end there was a bit of a scary surprise which made the book all that more worthwhile. The novel was a bit short and I would have loved to have read more about the characters but the main story is a loving, engaging romance between two people who thought they’d never get the chance. Really well told story. I thank the author for this sweet tale.

Come meet me this weekend at Indie Book Fest in Lake Mary, Florida. I will be at FanFare tomorrow, at the book signing on Saturday plus attending several panels and workshops throughout the days.

Check out the giveaway at my signing table and my books for sale. I will even have swag for you to take with you. I’d love to chat with you. If I attack you it’s only because I like you and I want to give you a hug (wide smile).